GalleryIndia election: world's largest democracy votes

Updated
Thu May 15 19:04:00 EST 2014

Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi, the prime ministerial candidate for India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), shows his ink-marked finger to his supporters after casting his vote at a polling station during the seventh phase of India's general election in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad April 30, 2014. Around 815 million people have registered to vote in the world's biggest election - a number exceeding the population of Europe and a world record - and results of the mammoth exercise, which concludes on May 12, are due on May 16.

Reuters/Amit Dave

Supporters of India's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) gather to listen to party president Mayati address an election rally in Allahabad.

AFP: Sanjay Kanojia

A man wearing a traditional turban casts his vote at a polling station in the Ajmer district. The voting runs from April 7 to May 12.

Reuters: Ahmad Masood

Indians cast their vote at a local polling station on the final phase of national elections in Varanasi on May 12, 2014.

AFP: Roberto Schmidt

Supporters of Hindu nationalist and prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi climb up poles in a tent to see him speak.

Reuters: K K Arora

Reang refugees lined up to vote at a refugee camp in Tripura on April 1.

Reuters:

An Indian holy man, or Sadhu, arrives to vote at a polling station in Vrindavan.

Reuters: Ahmad Masood

A polling official in Shilatne, Maharashtra paints ink on a voter's finger to indicate that she had voted.

Reuters:

A bomb attack hit the city of Srinagar outside Farooq Abdullah's campaign event on April 27.

AFP: Rouf Bhat

A USB memory stick in the shape of Narendra Modi, the prime ministerial candidate for the BJP party.

AFP: Sam Panthaky

People hold placards urging Indians to vote in the national elections at a rally in Hyderabad. The approximately 815 million eligible voters represent the largest electorate in the world.

AFP: Noah Seelam

Supporters of India's ruling Congress party cheer as Rahul Gandhi, the party's vice president, arrives to address a rally in Delhi.

Reuters: Anindito Mukherjee

Indian voters wait in line outside a polling station in Dibrugarh on April 7.

AFP: Dibyangshu Sarkar

India, the world's largest democracy, is in the midst of deciding on the make-up of its next parliament.

More than 814 million people are eligible to vote in the general election, which will elect 543 members for the country's lower house. Those members will then elect the prime minister.

The voting is being held in nine stages from April 7 to May 12, and the results are due May 16.